Charkaoui demands apology from government
In comments on one of the previous posts about the security certificate stories skdadl suggested that she'd like to see a public inquiry into the methods and mistakes of CSIS. I replied that I didn't think it was likely because I doubt that either a Conservative or a Liberal government would want to go there. But a lawsuit might raise some interesting possiblities given the current government's unwillingness to admit culpability and settle no matter how silly they've been.A Moroccan-Canadian man who was imprisoned or under surveillance for six years under a federal security certificate said Tuesday he wants a formal apology from the federal government.
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Charkaoui also said he has not ruled out seeking compensation from the federal government.
"There are legal avenues open to me," he said.
I can just imagine Harper shrugging. After all, it's not his money being spent on lawsuits.
But in this case he may have to choose between settling the case and allowing information to surface that reflects on his government and its handling of matters of national security which I think would be a hot button for him. As I understand it, there are always two members of cabinet involved in decisions about security certificates.
I am sure he has every lawyer in Ottawa looking for ways to avoid any disclosure or at least delay it as long as possible. Then when he has spent more millions on lawyers fees, he will settle for more millions, but with the condition that no information can be released. It is his pattern. I am sure he has it all planned. As I say. He doesn't worry about money. Every dollar spent on lawyers and settlements is another dollar that can't be spent on either green energy projects or day care. So, it's win/win for him.
Now, let's see. That's six people who have current issues with the security-certificate system, plus three given some prospect of justice by Iacobucci, plus possible suits from Mr Abdelrazik and others, and then somewhere down the line, if there's any justice, there will be suits from two Khadr brothers. Who'm I missing?
Me, I'm not thinking first of how much all that could cost. I'm figuring that somewhere in all those processes, the understanding is finally going to take hold among the Canadian people that something went very very wrong, not only with the RCMP and CSIS but in our foreign service and in successive governments through the first decade of this century. And then maybe we can do something serious to reform some institutions that have become sloppy and decrepit during too many years when no one questioned what they were doing.